Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Blair

" Let me get this straight, the guy you say is just your friend spent the day introducing you to a city in another country on his cell phone and bought you an old music box? " Abby asked sitting next to me on the couch the next day.

" I know what you are thinking and you are wrong. Dimitri and I just have a lot in common.

Maybe she wasn't so wrong, but I would never admit it.

" Like what?”

" We work traveling the world, we know many countries, we speak many languages," I listed.

" This is all obvious, you met at an airport," she rolled her eyes, "but what about personal tastes?”

" Well…”

At this point I had to admit that we didn't have much in common. In fact, it seemed to be the complete opposite.

I loved beaches and he loved historic cities. I liked to find flea markets and unknown places while he opted for museums, famous sights and classic restaurants.

But still I had loved to let him plan a full day for us.

" Well? " Abby insisted.

" He's helping me discover new things " I shrugged, reaching for my cell phone when it vibrated indicating the arrival of a message.

" Good morning" he wrote

"I hope you slept well, Commander"

"You're the one who just woke up.”

It was easy to forget that he was six hours ahead.

"My bad. How did you spend the day?"

" Come on, one minute you're telling me the guy is just your friend, and the next I'm completely oblivious because he texted you!? " Abby complained.

" Sorry " I blocked the cell phone.

" Today is supposed to be about me, remember? " she stood up and walked to the kitchen.

" You're right, sorry.”

A new notification arrived and I took advantage of her distraction to check it.

"It's raining hard, so I'm stuck at the hotel until it's time to go to the airport.”

" You have got to be kidding me! " Abby saw me before I hid the cell phone.

" Sorry, but he's stuck in the hotel room all by himself! " I exclaimed.

" So what?”

" Well…”

" NO!”

She didn't even allow me to finish my thought. I didn't want to leave him alone. I wanted to repay him for what he did for me in Vienna.

" You wouldn't even notice.”

" Blair, we're going to find a wedding dress, that's not going to happen," she threatened, and then the intercom rang.

I grabbed my purse from the countertop and walked her out of the apartment, still trying to find a good argument.

We boarded the elevator that was standing on the floor while I thought of something.

" You might need a male opinion.

" The only male opinion I need is Noah's," she returned grumpily.

" And you can't ask," I smiled, "Come on.”

We got off the elevator and she opened the door to the building, where Claire and Alison were waiting for us.

" My God, you are the worst maid of honor ever!

" What happened? " Claire frowned at our little argument.

" Blair wants to take her boyfriend virtually with us," Abby muttered.

" Boyfriend? " Alison asked in a suggestive tone.

" He's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend.”

" He's a Russian pilot she met through Noah," Abby rolled her eyes.

" Wait, you're dating the coffee guy? " Alison's eyes widened.

" Not like that, Mitchell gave him my number and we've been talking," I rolled my eyes.

" They met in Amsterdam and he took her on a virtual tour of Vienna," Abby confided.

" And now she wants to do the same? " Claire laughed.

" Never mind, let's go " I snorted.

" Abby, let her " Claire asked " I have an idea.”

I stared at them whispering to each other, and something told me I wasn't going to like their idea very much.

" Blair, come on. We're all set," Claire hummed as she approached the couch I was occupying in the corner of the dressing room in the wedding dress studio.

" I don't want to," I muttered grumpily.

" No? I thought you wanted to talk to your Russian commander. You know what you have to do to get your cell phone back to us," she winked.

I stood up angrily and went to the indicated place, finding Alisson there with a devilish grin on her face.

" You're going to regret this, keep my words" I threatened.

It took me a few minutes to get my cell phone back, and finally I was able to make the video call I had been longing for.

Dimitri didn't take long to answer, causing my heart to race. I should have given up. I hope he doesn't think I'm crazy.

" I thought you…”

The man interrupted his speech, staring at me with a surprised expression.

" Sorry for the delay, Commander," I tried to act as if nothing was happening, "I'll introduce you to the girls.”

" Blair…”

" Yes? " I stared at him, pretending to be natural.

" Is there a reason why you are wearing a wedding dress?"